MONTCLAIR, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Each time New Jersey City University has needed a big win in men's basketball over Montclair State University in the past two seasons, the Gothic Knights have gotten it, and Wednesday night was no exception in the 155th meeting between the schools. Leading by one at halftime, NJCU outscored the hosts 38-22 in the second half, shooting better than 52 percent for the game as the Knights claimed sole possession of second place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division with a crucial 76-59 win over the Red Hawks at the Panzer Athletic Center.
NJCU improves to 17-5 overall and 7-4 in the NJAC, winning its third in a row and for the fifth time in six games while sweeping the season series from Montclair (16-8, 6-6 NJAC). MSU leads the all-time series 87-68 since 1932-33, but NJCU has won four of the last five meetings over the last two seasons. The Knights also won the first meeting of the season between the schools, 70-62, on January 11 in Jersey City. MSU has lost its last three games.
With two regular season games remaining, the Knights have a one-game lead over both Ramapo College and Rutgers-Newark, both 6-5 in the league and a two-game lead in the loss column over MSU; first-place William Paterson University, NJCU's next opponent, is 10-2 and clinched the top seed on Wednesday. The top three teams in the division qualify for the six-team NJAC Tournament beginning on February 18.